FALKIRK are getting ready to offer Craig Sibbald a new deal – even though they fear the midfielder could leave the club at the end of the season.

Sibbald has been a first-team regular with the Bairns since making his debut aged just 16 in 2011.

Now 21, the cultured playmaker has seen friends and team-mates leave for big money moves down south or to the Scottish Premiership over the years but has never quite attracted the same kind of interest.

(PIc: Gordon Whyte @geewho59)

However, he may become a more attractive proposition next summer if he decides to let his contract run down and take his chances elsewhere.

Falkirk manager Peter Houston would love to keep the youngster and has confirmed the player will be offered fresh terms.

But the experienced boss admits the Bairns will do that with one eye on protecting any future compensation deal should Sibbald move on.

He said: “I know we’ve got a lot coming out of contract at the end of the season but I’ve not spoken to any players yet.

“There are reasons for that. For instance, what league are we going to be in?

STUNG

“There will be talks but we’ve got until the end of the season before we need to do that.

“We’ve got to be careful with one or two who might be leaving, where we have to make sure they’re offered a contract.

“For example, Craig Sibbald isn’t 24 yet. He’ll be offered a new contract anyway, but we have to offer something within a certain number of days of the end of his current contract.

“We’ll make sure we’re not going to be stung.

“There are a number of them I’d like to keep and we’ll get working on that.

“And there are some that might want to pursue their career elsewhere. We accept that and I’ve had that every year since I’ve come in.”